FAQ

The Coach Administrator runs the coaching program, based on the AYSO National Coaching Program, at the Region level. AYSO coaches come from many different backgrounds and have different skill levels. They need a model of good coaching as well as instruction and support.

Training and Certification ensures that volunteers understand the available resources and the responsibilities of their positions. It also offers the best hope that every family will receive the best possible AYSO experience.

The Coach Administrator makes sure there are enough coaches for the Region and that all coaches are properly trained, certified and registered. She also prepares an annual budget, schedules and publicizes coaching courses, participates in player ratings and team formation, meets with coaches every season, attends Section and Area meetings/conferences/events as required, and helps the Regional Commissioner in handling any coaching related issues.

Safe Haven™ is a program designed to address a growing need for child and volunteer protection. There are four elements in the Safe Haven™ intervention cycle: Create Policies, Screen Volunteers, Train Volunteers, and Promote Education and Awareness. These are intended to stop child abuse and its agents before they get into the program.

The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997
This law grants immunity from certain types of prosecution for volunteers who meet its requirements. In order to receive full protection under the law, AYSO volunteers need must:

Be properly trained and certified.

Be performing duties as laid out in a position description.

Act within the scope of AYSO's Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines.

AYSO Certification
AYSO's goal is to provide training certification for all its volunteers. Certification offers the hope that every AYSO child will be treated with understanding, compassion, and respect.

Kids Zone™
The national media has focused on the negative, even violent, behavior of players, coaches and parents involved in youth sports. Kids Zone™ is a dynamic program targeted to eliminate negative sideline behavior. Kids Zone™ buttons and signs are distributed throughout the Region and parents are asked to sign the Kids Zone™ Pledge promising to behave within the guidelines of the program.

While performing duties related to an AYSO volunteer position, the volunteer is:

Subject to the bylaws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines of AYSO;

Under the overall authority of and directly supervised by the Regional Commissioner; and

To maintain the recommended adult to child supervision ratio of 1:8 or less; that is one adult for every eight or fewer children and two adults (one of whom may be the coach and one of whom should be of the same gender as the group) present at all times. For the protection of both the children and the volunteer, no volunteer should permit himself or herself to be alone with any child or group of children (except his or her own) during AYSO-sponsored activities.